Effect of storage time and cryoprotectant concentrations on the fertilization rate and hatching rate of cryopreserved sperm in red seabream (Pagrus major Temminck & Schlegel, 1843)

This study examined the effects of storage time and cryoprotectant concentrations on the post-thaw sperm of red seabream, Pagrus major. Sperm treated with 12%, 15%, 18% and 21% DMSO were cryopreserved for 10, 30, 60 and 360 days, and fertilization and hatching rates were analysed. For all groups, there were no differences in the fertilization rates and hatching rates between sperm cryopreserved for < 60 days and fresh sperm (98.8 +/- 0.8%, 96.4 +/- 1.3%). However, for sperm cryopreserved for 360 days, both fertilization rates (88.6 +/- 3.0% to 7.0 +/- 1.9%) and hatching rates (79.4 +/- 7.2% to 3.3 +/- 0.8%) decreased drastically. Furthermore, the cryoprotectant concentrations affected sperm quality significantly (P < 0.05). When cryopreserved for 360 days, sperm treated with 15% DMSO obtained the best results compared with other concentrations. We suggest that 15% DMSO may be an effective cryoprotectant for long-term sperm cryopreservation of red seabream.

Cultivation of the brown alga Hizikia fusiformis (Harvey) Okamura: controlled fertilization and early development of seedlings in raceway tanks in ambient light and temperature

Commercial cultivation of the dioecious brown macroalga Hizikia fusiformis (Harvey) Okamura in East Asia depends on the supply of young seedlings from regenerated holdfasts or from wild population. Recent development of synchronized release of male and female gametes in tumble culture provides a possibility of mass production of young seedlings via sexual reproduction. In this paper, we demonstrate that controlled fertilization can be efficiently realized in ambient light and temperature in a specially designed raceway tank in which the sperm-containing water has been recirculated. The effective fertilization time of eggs by sperm was found to be within six hours. Fast growth and development of the young seedlings relied on the presence of water currents. Velocity tests demonstrated that young seedlings of 2-3 mm in length could withstand a water current of 190 cm s(-1) stop without detachment. Culture experiments at 24 h postfertilization showed that elongation of both the seedlings and their rhizoids were not hampered by high irradiance up to 600 mu mol photons m(-2) stop s(-1) stop. However, growth was slightly retarded if cultured at a temperature of 16 degrees C compared to other culture temperatures of 22, 25 and 29 degrees C. No seedling detachment was observed after transfer of the young seedlings to raft cultivation in the sea after one and 1.5 months post-fertilization, indicating the feasibility of obtaining large quantity of seedlings in such a system.

Oceanic iron fertilization: one of strategies for sequestration atmospheric CO2

Carbon cycle is connected with the most important environmental issue of Global Change. As one of the major carbon reservoirs, oceans play an important part in the carbon cycle. In recent years, iron seems to give us a good news that oceanic iron fertilization could stimulate biological productivity as CO2 sink of human-produced CO2. Oceanic iron fertilization experiments have verified that adding iron into high nutrient low chlorophyll (HNLC) seawaters can increase phytoplankton production and export organic carbon, and hence increase carbon sink of anthropogenic CO2, to reduce global warming. In sixty days, the export organic carbon could reach 10 000 times for adding iron by model prediction and in situ experiment, i.e. the atmospheric CO2 uptake and inorganic carbon drawdown in upper seawaters also have the same magnitude. Therefore, oceanic iron fertilization is one of the strategies for increasing carbon sink of anthropogenic CO2. The paper is focused on the iron fertilization, especially in situ ocean iron experiments in order that the future research is more efficient.

Ocean urea fertilization for carbon credits poses high ecological risks

The proposed plan for enrichment of the Sulu Sea, Philippines, a region of rich marine biodiversity, with thousands of tonnes of urea in order to stimulate algal blooms and sequester carbon is flawed for multiple reasons. Urea is preferentially used as a nitrogen source by some cyanobacteria and dinoflagellates, many of which are neutrally or positively buoyant. Biological pumps to the deep sea are classically leaky, and the inefficient burial of new biomass makes the estimation of a net loss of carbon from the atmosphere questionable at best. The potential for growth of toxic dinoflagellates is also high, as many grow well on urea and some even increase their toxicity when grown on urea. Many toxic dinoflagellates form cysts which can settle to the sediment and germinate in subsequent years, forming new blooms even without further fertilization. If large-scale blooms do occur, it is likely that they will contribute to hypoxia in the bottom waters upon decomposition. Lastly, urea production requires fossil fuel usage, further limiting the potential for net carbon sequestration. The environmental and economic impacts are potentially great and need to be rigorously assessed. (C) 2008 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

苔藓新老组织及其根际土壤的碳氮元素含量和同位素组成（δ^13C和δ^15N）对比

对细叶小羽藓（Haplocladium microphyllum）新老组织及其根际土壤的碳氮含量和同位素组成进行了分析,探讨了苔藓衰老过程控制元素和同位素变化的机制以及苔藓对土壤的贡献。同种组织碳氮含量之间的相关性反映了苔藓固碳能力和氮需求的相互联系。新生组织碳氮含量明显高于衰老组织且存在相关性,反映了苔藓衰老过程体内碳氮物质向新生组织迁移的生理特征。两种组织之间同位素组成（δ^13C和δ^15N）没有明显差异,说明组织间的物质迁移没有产生明显的同位素分馏,其原因可能在于细叶小羽藓形态结构简单,体内物质迁移对碳氮同位素组成的影响较小。相反,苔藓组织与根际土壤之间的有机碳/氮信息没有相关性,这可能与苔藓植物长期滞留营养物质、缓慢的分解和成土速度有关,反映了该研究区苔藓层对土壤碳氮累积的贡献较小.

植物叶片氮同位素（δ^15N）指示大气氮沉降的探讨

大气氮沉降的植物监测还未得到重视，尤其是氮同位素（δ^15N）示踪技术的研究在国内基本还没有开展。大气中的氮能够被叶片吸收而成为植物生长的氮源使得叶片氮同位素可以用于指示大气氮沉降，但影响因素甚多其可靠性不确定。本文总结了大气氮沉降输入及其被叶片的吸收机制，进而探讨利用叶片氮同位素识别大气氮沉降存在的问题。此外，近年来的研究表明，苔藓氮同位素是指示和评价大气氮沉降的可靠工具，还探讨了苔藓氮同位素指示大气氮沉降的可行性和优势，目的在于促进从氮同位素的角度认识地表植物对大气氮的吸收，为深入开展植物氮同位素指示大气氮沉降的研究提供理论依据.

苔藓氮稳定同位素(δ15N)指示贵阳地区大气氮沉降

苔藓稳定同位素是环境科学领域用于指示大气环境变化和研究大气污染物输入地表生态系统及其环境效应的新技术

巢湖沉积物δ^13C（org）和δ^15N记录的生态环境演化过程

通过对巢湖2处柱状沉积物样品中δ^13Corg、δ^15N、C/N比值、TOC和TN含量的测定,分析了近百年来巢湖沉积物有机质的来源,探讨受人类活动影响的湖泊生产力变化和富营养化过程.结果表明,巢湖沉积物有机质的主要来源是水生藻类,陆生有机质的输入量较少,但是城市污染物的输入与农业面源污染的影响是不可忽视的.巢湖沉积物剖面上,δ^13Corg、δ^15N、TOC和TN含量变化按沉积深度可以明显划分为2个阶段：①10 cm以下,H3点δ^13Corg波动在-21.74‰- -19.34‰的范围内,其余数据表现相对平缓,湖泊内的生物物种是固氮植物和非固氮植物共存,2个采样点具有不同的湖泊营养化进程;②10 cm至表层段,2个剖面的δ^13Corg迅速减小,δ^15N、TOC和TN则是显著增大,巢湖闸的建成使得内源营养物质快速积累,湖泊初始生产力水平迅速提高,富营养化加剧.